There are a couple of songs that I have listened to on repeat that have caused me to focus in two directions of my life. The one that brings me hope and peace is by Matthew West entitled “To Be With Jesus” with lyrics “When I go to be with Jesus/I’ll know I’m finally home/When my weary feet are walking on A street that’s paved in gold/No, this world ain’t where I’m staying/There’s somewhere else I’m meant to go/And when I go to be with Jesus/I’ll know I’m finally home.” In my heart, I can’t wait to hug Jesus! And the other song is about my past and how to look at it and encourage others not to make the same mistakes I have made entitled, “Dear younger me”, by MercyMe. Its whole focus is on what you would tell your younger self if you could. One specific line sticks out to me, “Dear younger me/Where do I start/If I could tell you everything that I have learned so far/Then you could be/One step ahead/Of all the painful memories still running thru my head/I wonder how much different things would be.” For many, what would we truly say or change if we could? I look back at all the decisions, good and bad, that I have made, and understand that it is those decisions that have helped make me into the Christian I am today. I cannot go back and erase the choices I made, but I can use what I learned from them to help someone else from making the same mistakes. I have learned the hard way that what may seem like a small decision in the moment can become something that controls your life if you continue down the wrong road. I wish I had understood then what I understand now, that the enemy will always make sin look appealing while hiding the destruction that comes with it. How different would our lives be if the penalty for sin was paid immediately? But, I also know now that there is no temporary pleasure in this world worth giving up the peace, freedom, and relationship with Jesus that comes from walking with Him. My first thoughts were, DON’T take that first drink. STAY away from drugs, especially meth. DON”T look at porn. Be CAREFUL who you associate with, especially when it comes to marriage. More importantly, look to Jesus for help, not to all that the world has to offer. I am encouraged by what is written in *Isaiah 61:1 “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound 3 To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness…* God has made “beauty from ashes” in my life whether I really wanted it or not, and that gives me hope that He can bring purpose, healing, and redemption from even the most painful seasons of our lives. He has encouraged me to reach out to the lost and broken in the world around me, because when I was lost and broken many turned me away, and I have learned that sometimes simply being willing to listen, love, and point someone toward Jesus can be the very encouragement they need to survive the day. Through all the pain that I have experienced, I know one thing for sure, if God can use me, a wretched sinner, He can use anyone, so none of us should believe that our past disqualifies us from being used by God. Since coming to Jesus, I have been blessed to be able to help countless others get through their own hell, all because of the hell that God helped me get through, and my prayer is that whatever you are carrying today, you will place it at the foot of the cross, trust that Jesus loves you, and allow Him to turn your ashes into something beautiful. The ultimate victory over suffering is transforming your own history of pain into someone else’s manual for survival. I have seen that those who were once scorched by the flame are often the first to return with water to quench the fire of the enemy. One part of the song that causes the most sorrow and yet is also the greatest truth I need to deal with is, “Dear younger me/It’s not your fault/You were never meant to carry this beyond the cross.” For those of you that are going through “Something”, anything, know that Jesus loves you and I love you too! 

Lord Jesus, thank You for meeting us in our brokenness, loving us through our mistakes, and reminding us that our past does not have the final word because You can bring beauty from ashes and hope from even our darkest seasons. Help us to have compassion for those who are struggling with the consequences of their choices, remembering that we all need Your grace, and give us the courage to share what You have taught us so that someone else might avoid the painful roads we have traveled. Give us wisdom each day to recognize the choices that can lead us away from You, the strength to say no to the things that promise temporary pleasure but bring lasting destruction, and the faith to choose Your peace, freedom, and presence instead. And when we feel weighed down by regret, shame, or the pain of our past, help us lay it at the foot of the cross, trust Your redemption, reach out to someone who needs hope, and remember that one day, when we go to be with Jesus, we will finally be home. Amen. 

My BeLoved, may the grace and peace of the Lord Jesus, the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen. In Christ Love, douglas. HE>i. pastord.blog

Special Note: I want to thank those who read what I write and are encouraged to support the ministry God has entrusted to me either one time or have decided to give on a monthly basis. I am encouraged to see certain verses playing out before my eyes like what is written in *Philippians 4:16 For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.*

To any who are interested, please feel free to reach out to me with prayer requests, questions, encouragement, or for information on how to come alongside me with financial support at pastord.blog@gmail.com or I do have a Zelle account associated with my phone number, 5202720387 last name Blaser. Thank you my Beloved for your ongoing prayers and support.